Novak Djokovic has secured a spot in the semifinals at the Monte Carlo Masters for the first time since 2015. The top-ranked Serb defeated Alex De Minaur with a 7-5, 6-4 victory on Friday, marking his return to the last four after nine years since his last title at the clay-court tournament.
Djokovic, at 36 years old, becomes the oldest semifinalist in the tournament's Open era. Despite facing challenges with his serve against De Minaur, Djokovic managed to break his opponent five times, advancing to a record 77th Masters 1000 semifinal, surpassing Rafael Nadal.
The match saw a total of seven breaks of serve in the second set, with Djokovic acknowledging that it was not his best performance. However, he expressed satisfaction with the win and views the tournament as crucial preparation for the upcoming French Open.
Next, Djokovic will face either Ugo Humbert or Casper Ruud for a chance to reach the final.
Jannik Sinner and Stefanos Tsitsipas Also Reach Semifinals
Australian Open champion Jannik Sinner overcame a tough challenge from Holger Rune to secure a spot in the semifinals for the second consecutive year. Sinner will face two-time champion Stefanos Tsitsipas in the next round.
Tsitsipas, who has had a strong performance in Monaco, defeated Karen Khachanov to advance to the semifinals. The Greek player, with a record of 8-1 against his Russian rival, has not dropped a set in the tournament, aiming to continue his success at the Country Club.
Reflecting on his past victories at the tournament, Tsitsipas expressed his satisfaction with his performance and the memories associated with the venue.
The upcoming semifinals promise exciting matchups as Djokovic, Sinner, and Tsitsipas vie for a spot in the Monte Carlo Masters final.
